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Is the All-Star MVP now a Lifetime Achievement Award?

Is it just me, or was it a bit bizarre to see Mariano Rivera named the MVP of the All-Star game? I know he is probably the greatest closer of all time and that this is his last year. And I think he fully deserved the standing ovation he got. But should he really have been given the MVP, too? Doesn't that award usually at least go to someone who contributed more meaningfully to the victory of the winning team?

Don't get me wrong, that perfect 8th inning by Mo was a thing of beauty. Still... is this such an exhibition game now that it has really become baseball's version of the Oscars? I mean, as the years go on, are bookmakers going to start predicting the game MVP before it happens -- sort of like "Best Actor" awards?

Forgive me for this rant... but somewhere the little kid in me who used to love the All-Star game as a real competition will be crying himself to sleep tonight.

Re: Is the All-Star MVP now a Lifetime Achievement Award?

Not usually, but it was deserved tonight. I just wish he'd been allowed to pitch the 9th instead of the 8th. How was this game not a "real competition" compared to previous all-star games?

I dunno. Maybe it is the same. As I said, it was a rant. I have these memories, though, of All-Star games being much more fierce and competitive. Not all of them were Rose-Fosse level intense, obviously, but I just remember feeling like the players actually cared. Now it doesn't feel the same. And I guess I just feel like having an award doled out like that cheapens the whole event. I have nothing against Mo, but I just think the award should be reserved for the player who actually performs the best in the game.

Re: Is the All-Star MVP now a Lifetime Achievement Award?

Originally Posted by RedEye

I dunno. Maybe it is the same. As I said, it was a rant. I have these memories, though, of All-Star games being much more fierce and competitive. Not all of them were Rose-Fosse level intense, obviously, but I just remember feeling like the players actually cared. Now it doesn't feel the same. And I guess I just feel like having an award doled out like that cheapens the whole event. I have nothing against Mo, but I just think the award should be reserved for the player who actually performs the best in the game.

So who would be your MVP for this game? It was dominated by pitching and the moment of the night was the inning Mariano appeared. I thought it was awesome. My only problem with the game was him not closing it out instead of setting it up. Major managerial blunder, IMO.

"I talked to an advance scout that told me if Joey Votto and Albert Pujols were on the same team he'd advise his team to do the unthinkable...pitch around Votto to get to Pujols." - Buster Olney, ESPN

Re: Is the All-Star MVP now a Lifetime Achievement Award?

Originally Posted by New York Red

So who would be your MVP for this game? It was dominated by pitching and the moment of the night was the inning Mariano appeared. I thought it was awesome. My only problem with the game was him not closing it out instead of setting it up. Major managerial blunder, IMO.

Not a blunder. Though odds were slim at the time...the NL may not have had to bat in the 9th. Perfectly managed in my mind. What a scene as he took the field.

But to the point of MVP...it was a pretty blah game with no real star...who cares, give it to 42.

Likes:

Re: Is the All-Star MVP now a Lifetime Achievement Award?

Originally Posted by New York Red

So who would be your MVP for this game? It was dominated by pitching and the moment of the night was the inning Mariano appeared. I thought it was awesome. My only problem with the game was him not closing it out instead of setting it up. Major managerial blunder, IMO.

I dunno. Maybe a guy like Chris Sale, who pitched two innings? Anyway, as I said above, this is not a major issue. Looking at the box score, it just wasn't a game with a lot of standout performances. Might as well give it to the future HOF then, I guess.

Re: Is the All-Star MVP now a Lifetime Achievement Award?

It's fine by me. Rivera has been a class act for nearly 20 years. MLB should recognize him every chance they get. Ripken is the only other player I can remember who was retiring and received the ASG MVP. Ripken had good cause to receive the MVP that year since he hit a HR. Maybe there were others I just can't remember?

Re: Is the All-Star MVP now a Lifetime Achievement Award?

Originally Posted by cumberlandreds

It's fine by me. Rivera has been a class act for nearly 20 years. MLB should recognize him every chance they get. Ripken is the only other player I can remember who was retiring and received the ASG MVP. Ripken had good cause to receive the MVP that year since he hit a HR. Maybe there were others I just can't remember?

Yeah, Ripken's HR made that more legit for me. This was different, since there were like 10 other pitchers who did pretty much exactly the same thing in the game.

"Iíll kind of have a foot on the back of my own butt. Thatís just how I do things.Ē -- Bryan Price, 10/22/2013

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